Rig Veda 3.39.3 — Mandala 3, Sukta 39, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.39
Rishi: Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for RV 3)
Devata: Indra (with allied powers of speech and tapas as instruments of victory over tamas)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh
Samhita Patha (Devanagari)
यमा चिदत्र यमसूरसूत जिह्वाया अग्रं पतदा ह्यस्थात् । वपूंषि जाता मिथुना सचेते तमोहना तपुषो बुध्न एता ॥
Transliteration
yamā́ cid átrā yama-sū́r asūta jihvā́yā ágraṁ pátadā́ hy ásthāt | vapū́ṃṣi jātā́ mithunā́ sacete tamó-hanā́ tápuso budhná étā ||
Translation
Even here, where the constraining twin-force was born, the tongue’s foremost point sprang forth and took its stand. The forms that are born as a paired power come to mutual union—these are the slayers of darkness, rooted in the deep foundation of Tapas (concentrated heat of will).
Word by Word
य॒माthe two Yamas (Yama-pair)
य॒मा:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootयम (प्रातिपदिक) / यम (देव-नाम)
चित्indeed, even
चित्:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootचित् (अव्यय)
अत्रhere
अत्र:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र (अव्यय)
यमYama
यम:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयम (प्रातिपदिक)
सूरःthe Sun (Sūrya)
सूरः:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootसूर (प्रातिपदिक)
असूतbegot, brought forth
असूत:
—
TypeVerb
Root√सू (सूते) / causative sense in Vedic: ‘to beget/produce’
जिह्वायाःof the tongue
जिह्वायाः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootजिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
अग्रम्the foremost point, tip
अग्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
पतदाby flying / in a flying manner
पतदा:
Karaṇa
TypeAdjective
Rootपतद् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘flying’ < √पत्)
हिfor, indeed
हि:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
अस्थात्stood, took its place
अस्थात्:
—
TypeVerb
Root√स्था (तिष्ठति)
वपूँषिforms, bodies
वपूँषि:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootवपु (प्रातिपदिक)
जाताःborn, arisen
जाताः:
Kartā
TypeAdjective
Root√जन् (जायते) → जात (कृदन्त)
मिथुनाas a pair, paired
मिथुना:
—
TypeAdjective
Rootमिथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
सचेतॆthe two unite/act together
सचेतॆ:
—
TypeVerb
Root√चि (चेतति) with सह- → √सचेत्/सच् (Vedic) ‘to be together/agree’
तमोहनाdarkness-slaying
तमोहना:
Viśeṣaṇa
TypeAdjective
Rootतमो-हन (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय: ‘darkness-slaying’)
तपुषःof heat, of ardor
तपुषः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootतपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
बुध्नेin the base, in the foundation
बुध्ने:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeNoun
Rootबुध्न (प्रातिपदिक)
एताthese two
एता:
Kartā
TypePronoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Ritual Application
Philosophical Concepts
Vedic Cosmology
Natural Symbolism
Academic Analysis
Cross References
Yogic Application
Chanting Notes
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